AT LAST, THE SECRET TO BARN CHORES IS REVEALED!

We have owned our farm since 2012. In 2013, we acquired our first farm animals, which were chickens. Who knew that these lovely creatures were our gateway to the bio-diversified farm that we have now. Therefore, the farm chores ensued.

The chicken chores were easy enough. Fresh water, layer feed, open the coop doors in the morning; close the coop doors at night. Simple right?

We wanted to up the ante, so we brought two horses home.

My horse Zee, a sorrel Quarter horse, has been with me since 2009 but I had him boarded at the stable that I had bought him. Still I needed to have him closer to me. My husband bought Captain Morgan, a black Percheron, from a local stable as well and wanted to get straight to work driving him.

Okay, now we have chickens and horses, not too shabby. They were work, but nothing strenuous. Next came the pigs and sheep. Then two more horses.

This is when I learned of the proper farm chore attire.

Almost everyone thinks that farmers wear overalls day-in and day-out. This is true for some cases, but I will let you in on a little secret:

Barn boots go with everything, including pajamas.

Yup, you read that right, pajamas. There is no better fashion sense, nor comfortable style than rubber boots and pajamas.

You might think, “why on Earth would someone want to go to the barn in their PJ’s?”

I’ll tell you: you won’t always be given the choice to get dressed and then do barn chores. Things on a farm always seem to go awry, no matter how much has been planned or designed. Situations change on a minute basis.

One second the sheep are happily grazing in their pasture, you think about getting that second cup of coffee in the morning and then get dressed for the day, but then you just so happen to look out the window. The sheep are no longer foraging in their pasture. Instead, the inquisitive animals decide that they had enough of their confinement and one makes a break for it through the fence.

Not to be out done, the others gallantly follow and soon all the sheep are out.

There is no time to spend getting dressed, the sheep are heading for the neighbor’s lawn and we do not want them eating their flower bushes, again.

So much for that second cup of coffee.

You slip on your rubber boots because who has time to tie shoes.

Running out the door, you grab some grain from the barn and start calling them back.

“COM’ ON SHEEP!”

They baa back and commence running toward the grain bucket. You run inside the barn to contain them all together.

Crisis adverted.

Now it is time to move the fence and put the sheep back outside before they get into more mischief in the barn.

The grass is tall and still wet from the dew. Before long, your flannel pajama pants are now soaked, but there is still so much to do! Ever onward.

The fence is now established, it is time to put the sheep back out. Another bucket of grain, then call the sheep to follow you into their new meadow. If all goes as planned, the sheep will be settled in no time grazing on the green patch of land.

Since you are already outside, you might as well do the rest of the chores, I mean your PJ’s are already drenched and dirty.

Hauling buckets of water to the animals inside the barn, moving water hoses to the animals outside the barn, grain scoops and buckets are distributed, and wheel barrels full of muck and manure get maneuvered around to the compost pile.

As you can see, it is not always a choice to pair your pajamas with your barn boots. It tends to become a necessity.

Once you try it though, it just becomes the normal barn-wear attire. Trust me.

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We are one of upstate New York's few farm bed and breakfasts. Every month we create a variety of fun and interesting events.